Anthrax shots to become mandatory

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Bryan Gatewood
  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
Based on the continuing risk of anthrax exposure to certain U.S. members, the Department of Defense announced on Oct. 12 that it was moving the current voluntary vaccination program to a mandatory program for certain locations.

Beginning within the next few months military, emergency-essential DoD civilians and contractors currently stationed, deployed or deploying to high threat areas, including U.S. Central Command locations and the Republic of Korea, will no longer have the option to decline the anthrax vaccination.

Services will issue plans on how they intend to implement the new policy over the next two months. The program will start soon after.

"Anthrax vaccinations, like other immunizations and medical countermeasures we take to mitigate risk, are an important force health protection measure, providing around-the-clock protection from the anthrax bacteria, a known threat," said Lt. Col. Cynthia Cogburn, with Pacific Air Forces Public Health.

"Because there are still many details that need to be worked out between services and health affairs, it is unclear exactly when we will implement the policy, and a specific date for beginning mandatory anthrax vaccinations has not been provided," she said.

Until the implementation plans are approved, the vaccination will continue to be offered on a voluntary basis under the existing policy to eligible members stationed or deployed to U.S Central Command or Republic of Korea.

"The scientific community stands behind the safety and effectiveness of the anthrax vaccine in preventing anthrax infection from all routes of exposure," Colonel Cogburn said. "In fact, there have been more than 5 million doses given to DoD members since the program began in 1998 with a safety record comparable to other routine vaccines."

A court order halted mandatory vaccinations in 2004. In 2005, the order was lifted, and members deploying to high threat areas or in special units could choose to receive the vaccinations or not.

While the new program will be mandatory for those deploying to high threat areas, the program will be voluntary for servicemembers and civilians who started their vaccine series but had to stop because of the judge's order.

Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs said, the anthrax threat is still out there. "Our adversaries continue to remind us that they are determined to obtain nuclear, chemical and biological weapons," he said.

The assistant secretary said DoD is looking at studies conducted with the Centers for Disease Control that may allow the department to reduce the number of shots from six to five or even four.

There is no shortage of the vaccine, Doctor Winkenwerder said.

American Forces Press Service contributed to this article.